A DARTMOOR animal charity has been dealt a huge financial blow after its honesty donation box was broken into and cash stolen.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is now appealing for help after losing an estimated £350 in donations as well as irreparable damage to the collection box.

The cash raised from the donations from visitors who park in its car park next to its headquarters, visitor and education centre based on the Parke Estate at Bovey Tracey is essential. It is used to pay for hay to feed its six ponies.

Four of then ponies are used for its Ponies Inspiring People programme, an education, engagement outreach scheme.

The charity’s CEO Dru Butterfield estimates that about £350 was stolen and the box, known as a cairn, is now out of use. Until it is replaced with a more secure version, the charity will continue to lose much-needed financial support.

Dru said: ‘We were devastated that someone would do this.

‘The car park money is an invaluable source of funding especially during the winter when the ponies need extra forage.

‘We’re hopeful that someone might step forward and help us rebuild the cairn with a much sturdier version, but until it is built, we will continue losing funds.’

The DPHT works with pony keepers who own and breed Dartmoor ponies helping secure their future on the moors. It also promotes the Dartmoor pony for conservation grazing and manages 82 hectares of moorland and heathland at Bellever, Postbridge, where it runs a herd of 26 ponies.

Free guided walks across Bellever are a regular offering enabling people to learn about the ponies, conservation grazing, wildlife and habitats on Dartmoor. Despite the set back, it’s business as usual for the charity with the visitor centre re-opening in February half term.

It will then open continuously from Easter, with a raft of new activities scheduled for 2022 including a new gallery, Dartmoor guides, story tellers and artists who will all be sharing their knowledge of the heritage of Dartmoor ponies and the environment in which they live.

Dru said: ‘While it’s been a disappointing start to the New Year we have a wealth of new ideas for 2022 where will be encouraging people of all ages to take advantage of everything we offer here, and really take to heart Dartmoor’s wonderful and fascinating heritage, including the important part that the ponies play in it.

‘We’ll be taking visitors on a wonderful Dartmoor journey.’

Anyone who can offer help in rebuilding the cairn or would like to donate to the charity visit www.dpht.co.uk